The Development of Greek Culture
2000-700 BCE
Notice that Greek settlements are widely scattered
throughout the Mediterranean region by 550 BCE.
What did these colonies develop?
Myths and stories were
written in the Greek
language which
developed from the
Phoenician script.
Why is a written
language important?
These early Greek writings became the
foundation of Greek culture. Two main
sources:
• Homer’s
writings,
-The Iliad
-The Odyssey
• Mythology
Homer was a blind
storyteller from the
Greek civilization of
Mycenae. His stories
date back to 700 BCE
and reveal legendary
heroes of the Greeks’
war with the city of
Troy.
Statue of Homer, Munich
Homer’s stories
were later written
as epic poems,
The Iliad and The
Odyssey.
What does “epic”
mean?
“…A literary work about a hero,
amazing adventures or an
otherwise intense or amazing story.
Often, an epic tale involves a hero
on an adventurous quest to rescue
another main character, to save the
world in some manner, or to defend
his community against a rival or
enemy. -Education, Seattle Pi
What do you
already know
about the
Trojan War?
Talk to your
neighbor.
The Trojan War is believed
to have occurred around
1200 BC.
The Greeks fought Troy for ten years.
Historians believe that the war was over
control of the Aegean Sea.
But that is not the story you are
familiar with. Homer’s Iliad
recounts the story:
Helen, beautiful wife of the king
of Sparta, falls in love with Paris,
the prince of Troy.
Helen is kidnapped by Paris and
taken to Troy.
This sparks a war between the
Greeks and the Trojans as the
Greeks attempted to invade Troy.
“Beware of Greeks
Bearing gifts.”
Proverb
Talk to your neighbor,
what does this mean?
Why are Homer’s stories important?
Because they reveal so much about
Greek culture, civilization and their
values of honor, heroism and courage.
Both stories also reveal much about Greek
Mythology. What do you already know about Greek
Mythology?
Is it polytheistic or monotheistic?
How did Greek mythology affect culture, politics
and art?
•Festivals were held to honor the gods
and goddesses
•Each city state had a patron god or
goddess that the Greeks believed
protected it.
•Politically, governments consulted
the Gods and goddesses through the
Oracle of Delphi
•The gods and goddesses were the
subject of classical art
Replica of Athena sculpture that stood at the Parthenon
How did it help explain the natural world
and human behavior?
It helped explain geographic features and natural
phenomenon as well as emotions such as jealousy
and anger.
It was believed that the Greek gods and
goddesses lived on Mt. Olympus
The Oracle at Delphi, a mystical priestess
was believed to be able to speak to the
gods and goddesses.
Greek temple at Delphi
Zeus
Who were the most
important Greek gods and
goddesses?
Hera
http://www.history.com/topics/ancienthistory/greek-mythology/videos/greekgods?m=528e394da93ae&s=undefined&f=1&f
ree=false
Apollo
Artemis
Athena
Aphrodite
Homeric Quotes about Greek Mythology
“It was built
against the
will of the
immortal gods
So it did not last
for long.”
The Iliad
Park Row building in New York
“You will certainly
not be able to take
the lead in all
things yourself, for
to one man a god
has given deeds
of war, and to
another the
dance, to another
lyre and song, and
to another wide
sounding Zeus
puts a good
mind.”
The Iliad
National Archives Building, Washington DC
“Thus, have the gods spun the thread from
wretched mortals that live in grief while
they themselves are without cares; for two
jars stand on the floor of Zeus of the gifts
which he gives, one of evils and another of
blessings.”
The Iliad
U.S. Dept. of Justice
“The gods, likening
themselves
To all kinds of
strangers, go in
various disguises
From city to city,
observing the
wrongdoing and the
righteousness of
men.”
The Odyssey
Manhattan Bridge, NYC
http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/video/theolympians
Ancient and Classical Greece Timeline
2000 BCE 1500 BCE
Minoan
Civilization
prospers
Mycenae
thrives
About
1200 BCE
Trojan
War
Takes
place
750 BCE
City-states
flourish
479 BCE
Greece
wins
Persian
War
431BCE
334BCE
Peloponnesian
Wars
(Sparta &
Athens)
Homer composes
The Iliad and The Odyssey
Alexander begins to build
Empire by conquering Persian
Empire
The Development of Greek Culture
What is culture?
Greek Mythology
Was Greek mythology monotheistic
or polytheistic?
Two sources of Greek culture were:
1.
How did mythology help explain the
natural world and human behavior?
2.
What did Homer write?
1.
2.
What were these epic poems about?
Name the six most important Greek
Gods and goddesses below.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Where would we find pictures or
sculptures of gods and goddesses in
the modern world?
Photo credits
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destination/greece/article125160.ece/ALTERNAT
ES/w620/The-Porch-of-the-CaryatidsA.jpg
http://www.liquiddragon.com/images/odyssey/odyssey_game_shot_3.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f2/Homer_Statue_Munich.jpg
http://www.utexas.edu/courses/greeksahoy!/greek_colonies_550.jpg
http://www.usu.edu/markdamen/1320Hist%26Civ/slides/17alphabet/mapspreadof
alphabetsmall.JPG
http://www.crystalinks.com/canaanitealph.gif
http://www.utexas.edu/courses/introtogreece/lect16/varvakonathena.jpeg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/2LQxhwEcdnc/UZ5rIKYGcHI/AAAAAAAAA8o/Mvn4c0XJl0c/s1600/Temple+of+Athena
-Delphi.jpg
Information Source Credits:
http://education.seattlepi.com/epic-tale-4888.html